§ MR. HARRINGTON (for Mr. JOHN O'CONNOR)asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether it is the custom of the police at Rosscrea to post themselves outside the house where Nationalist meetings are held; whether, on the 15th of February, a posse of police remained outside the hall of the Catholic Club, Rosscrea, and took down the names of persons who entered in order to attend a meeting convened for the purpose of establishing a branch of the Irish National League, and if a similar proceeding on the part of the police occurred on last Sunday; and, whether he will issue instructions restraining the police from continuing these proceedings?
§ MR. CAMPBELL-BANNERMANI find that two constables attended as stated outside the meeting of the 15th February, which had been previously announced by placard. They were there in the ordinary discharge of their duty, and I do not think it necessary to issue any instructions to restrain them from performing it.
§ MR. HARRINGTONMight I ask whether it is the ordinary discharge of a constable's duty to take down the names of everyone going into a legal meeting; and whether the police discharge that ordinary duty in the case of the meetings of Orange Lodges?
§ MR. CAMPBELL-BANNERMANThe instructions given to them are to watch any meeting.